Deadline Date: May 17, 2026
The Social Impact Award incubation program provides young innovators with the resources and support needed to transform their ideas into successful social ventures.
The program focuses on supporting projects with strong impact potential, high degrees of innovation, and feasibility, aiming to help participants develop sustainable social solutions.
Participants in the program will receive mentoring, expert guidance, assessments of their business and impact models, assistance with idea prototyping, and support in reaching out to their first customers. They also have the opportunity to win the Social Impact Award, which includes a financial reward and a ticket to the international SIA Summit, and to connect with an international community of over 1,000 social innovators across 25 countries worldwide.
Applicants must meet certain criteria to participate in the SIA program. At least one team member must be aged between 15 and 30 years. Ideas can be at the concept stage or in early development, but projects already in early implementation must have been founded after January 1 of the previous year. Projects that have received formal funding exceeding €6,000 are not eligible, and returning applicants must submit a new idea or project to qualify.
The selection process begins with an internal review to ensure all applications meet the eligibility criteria. A jury of experts from the private, non-profit, and public sectors then evaluates applications based on impact potential, innovation, and feasibility. Finalists are announced via a publicly available online stream, and all applicants receive feedback on their submissions regardless of the outcome.
For more information, visit Social Impact Award.
